mourn

verb

ˈmȯrn 

mourned; mourning; mourns

intransitive verb

1

: to feel or express grief or sorrow

When he dies, people throughout the world will mourn.

2

: to show the customary signs of grief for a death

especially : to wear mourning

mourned for thirty days in black clothes

3

: to murmur mournfully

—used especially of doves

transitive verb

1

: to feel or express grief or sorrow for

mourned the death of his son

2

: to utter mournfully

let the whirlwind mourn its requiem

—W. S. Gilbert

mourner noun

mourningly

ˈmȯr-niŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• grieve

Examples of mourn in a Sentence

She is still mourning her husband, who died last year.

Thousands of people mourned his death.

She was mourned by everyone who knew her.

She mourned the loss of her youth.

He still mourns the fact that he never went to college.

Recent Examples on the Web

England’s family has continued to mourn the death of the 74-year-old grandmother, who was killed after walking to pick up flour at her local Lidl grocery store, according to the BBC. —Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025

Music fans are still mourning the death of legendary singer D’Angelo and lauding how the vastness of his musical experiences, from gospel to funk to soul, permeates his catalog. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025

During that span, the six-time Pro Bowler mourned the loss of five of his former teammates and NFL colleagues — all of whom died before their 40th birthdays. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025

Benny Letterman, who’s been eating there since 1972, is among the many mourning the loss. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English murnan; akin to Old High German mornēn to mourn, Greek mermēra care — more at memory

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for mourn

• borne
• bourn
• bourne
• corn
• morn
• porn
• scorn
• shorn
• sworn
• thorn
• torn
• warn

Kids Definition

mourn

verb

ˈmō(ə)rn 

ˈmȯ(ə)rn

1

: to feel or show grief or sorrow especially over someone's death

2

: to display the customary signs of grief for a death especially by wearing mourning

mourner noun